Princess Anne at a Women's Lib. lunch

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33045, 12 October 1972, Page 6

Princess Anne at a Women's Lib. lunch

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 11. Princess Anne—a declared opponent of Women’s Lib—found herself in the middle of a controversial argument over women’s rights this week, says the Press Association, She was guest of honour at the annual Women of the Year lunch where the speakers were asked the question: “What does freedom mean for women today?” Princess Anne did not speak, but those giving their views were the British actress, Glenda Jackson; a Lancashire mother of six, Mrs Frances Morris; a sixth-form schoolgirl, Sarah Bayliss; and a journalist and Women’s Lib. champion, Jill Tweedie. They all punched home in the most genteel way

widely differing views on just what a woman’s role should be. Miss Tweedie, sitting three seats away from Princess Anne, told 700 guests at the Savoy Hotel that working women’s wages, on average, were less than half those earned by men. “Women’s Lib. has concerned itself with practical issues — a unique and vital battle to free the minds of women,” she said. Mrs Morris disagreed totally. Upholding the idea of family tradition, she said: “I find it illogical that the social services can make a

grant of £50,000 to a contraceptive campaign in two of our towns, which panders to the weak, immoral, and unmarrieds in our society, and then a further £50,000 to stem the VD epidemics which are the natural successors to such programmes.” Strong stuff to swallow with after-lunch coffee—

but more was to come from Glenda Jackson. “A woman must be feminine—which you recognise by her long hair, propensity for wearing pink, big bosom, and maddening giggle,” she said.

“Thoughless on every subject, but as her time is devoted to determining the values of washing-up liquids, can you wonder?” The youngest guest, Sarah Bayliss, refused to be swayed from her own individual view. “What I want isn’t to be a liberated lady, a female sheikh, or a new woman. I want to try to be myself,” she said. •